Summer Trail Access and Conditions Update Updated June 30, 2017 July Fourth Report! Summer Trail Highlights Summer season high use at recreation sites and trails. Fire season in effect. Possessing or discharging of fireworks prohibited on National Forest Lands. Summer trails below 5,800’ elevation are mostly snow free and accessible. Trail clearing (mostly volunteers) in progress on lower/mid elevation trails. Snow lines are rising to 6,000-7-,200 ft. Please avoid using muddy trails. 60-70% of Wilderness trails are blocked by snow! Wilderness permits required. Biking prohibited in Wilderness! Trails near snow lines (approx.6,000-7,000’) are Be aware of weekday (M-F) trail, road likely muddy. Please avoid using muddy trails as and area closures for logging early season use causes erosion and tread damage. operations, south and west of Cascade Higher elevation trails under patchy, sectional to Lks Welcome Station. near solid snow. 70% of PCT under snow. May 15-Sept 15, dog leash requirement in effect on Deschutes River Trails. Northwest Forest Passes required at various trailheads and day use sites. Cascade Lakes Welcome Station and Lava Lands are open 7 days/wk. NW Forest Passes available. Hwy 46 open but June 19-October 31 bridge related construction at Fall Creek and Goose Creek (Sparks Lk area) will have delays. Cultus Lk and Soda Creek campgrounds are closed until further notice. Go prepared with your Ten Essential Trail clearing in progress on snow free trails with Systems. approx. 50-60% of trails are cleared of down trees. Have a safe summer trails season! GENERAL SUMMER TRAIL CONDITIONS AS OF JUNE 30, 2017: Most Deschutes National Forest non-Wilderness summer trails below 6,000’ elevation are snow free and accessible. Most Wilderness trails above 5,800’-6,000’ are BLOCKED BY SNOW! Patchy snow may be found below these elevations. Depending on distance from Cascade Crest, snow lines vary from 6000’ just east of the Crest to 7,000’ (patchy/sectional) in Newberry Caldera. The section of Pacific Crest Trail from Mt. Jefferson south to Mt. Thielsen is approximately 70% under sectional to solid snow and possibly up to 6’ deep in some drifted areas. EXPECT DELAYED SEASON ACCESS! Wilderness trails in the Green Lakes and South Sister area may yet be under 6+ ft. of snow. General snow free access to Wilderness trails is not expected to be available until possibly into late July-August for higher elevations (Green Lks) and much of the South Sister Climbers Trail. Logging out (tree clearing) of these trails does not occur until the trail is snow free. Plan accordingly for any backcountry Wilderness day or overnight hikes and stock rides. This will be a delayed season for backcountry and Wilderness access. DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST SUMMER TRAILHEADS/TRAILS: Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District summer trails/access: Phils TH – Good trail access with most trail in good condition. Be aware of trail obliteration/closure of user created trail from road 4610 west for approx.. 2 miles. A new section of Kent’s Trail begins is in place. Be aware of closed trails Mon-Fri (COD between Junctions 21 and 32 and Grand Slam Trail), roads and area closures due to West Bend logging activities. All logging is finished along the Deschutes River Trails with trails open. For more information on COTA, who they are, what they do and how you can help, go to: http://cotamtb.com/ Tumalo Falls Trailhead – Road to trailhead now open for the season. Trail to overlook and just beyond snow free for first 1½ mile of trail then increasing to a few feet of snow on the North Fork Trail. Bridge Creek, North and South Fork Trails likely blocked by snow until late June-mid-July. North Fork is normally open to uphill biker traffic only…when snow and down tree free to Happy Valley so bikers are not forced to turn around and ride back down the North Fork. Please park your bike at Tumalo Falls Trailhead area and hike up to upper overlook and beyond. Be aware that Bridge Creek Tr is thru the Bend Municipal Watershed and open only to day hikers. Stock, dog, bikes and camping are Have a safe summer trails season! prohibited from entering the BMW. Farewell/Mrazek Trails – likely in good condition downhill to Shevlin Park. Higher elevations snow/down trees likely. Be aware that due to very limited parking and high use, there is a 27’ vehicle length limit at TH. Even then, the parking area fills early and can often remain at overflow capacity on busy days; good chance you will have to park along the road ¼ mile or more from the trailhead. Please pay close attention to “NO PARKING” signs on one side of the entrance road. An “overflow parking” area may be opening in the near future and it will be 3/8 mile below the main trailhead parking area. A new short connecting trail is in place now on the north side of road; so you don’t have to hike on the roadway from overflow to Tumalo Falls Trailhead. Deschutes River Trailheads/Trails –River trails are in good condition and cleared of down trees from Rimrock Trailhead to Sunriver. May 15 thru Sept. 15, dogs are required to be on leash along Deschutes River Trails. Northwest Forest Passes are required for parking in posted NWFP locations. Iron Ranger fee stations are available at: Meadow Picnic, Road 41 and Hwy 46 junction, Benham East and Lava Lands “After Hours Parking Lot” (Black Rock TH). Sun Lava Paved Path between Sunriver, Benham East and Lava Lands (Trailhead accesses south end of Lava Lands parking, Benham East or Circle 7 of Sunriver). Paved path in good condition, heavy use on weekends. Lava Lands Trails - Lava Lands trails are accessible. Lava Lands interpretive trails and the trail on Lava Butte are open. Lava Lands summer schedule, 7 days/wk, 9-5 now in effect. New Rimrock Trailhead – Previously known as “Good Dog Trailhead”, is open and accessible with DRT access trail in good condition. Please cleanup after your pet. Located at MP 5 on Hwy 46, between Entrada Lodge and Widgee Creek. NWFP not required. Tumalo Creek 2 Trail – Hiker only, possibly some down trees on trail. Wanoga Mt. Bike Trails - Snow free but may have a few down trees. Swampy Lake Trails – mostly snow free with some down trees on trails. Flagline trail closed until August 15 for elk calving. Tumalo Mt.Trail – Hiker only, patchy to sectional snow, may have light blowdown. Have a safe summer trails season! Todd Lake Trailhead Road 370 access now open from Hwy 46 to Todd Lake Trailhead parking; closed and gated beyond. Todd Lake basin is under 60% snow, lake is ice free. Road 370 beyond the parking area to Road 4601 gate is blocked by snow and down trees and closed to motor vehicles until possibly into August. This includes access to road 380 which provides vehicle access to the Broken Top Trailhead. Please pay close attention to the new “NO PARKING” zones along the entrance road. These sections of roadway must remain fully accessible to avoid traffic hazards and permit larger emergency vehicle access. Parking area fills early! Todd Creek Horse Camp – Open with patchy snow. Sparks Lake Trailhead – Snow free and accessible. Down trees on trails. Ray Atkison Trailhead and Sparks Lake boat ramp – Snow free and accessible, down trees on trails. Parking area fills early on weekends and busy on weekdays. Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trailhead – TH snow free but patchy to solid snow begins approx. 1 mile from TH. Lakes still iced over on June 25. Hwy 46 bridge reconstruction over Fall Creek begins June 19, expect traffic delays thru October. Very heavy use. Devils Lake/South Sister Trailhead – Snow free and accessible with snow beginning 1 mile up the Climbers Trail and mostly snow covered to summit. Hwy 46 bridge reconstruction over Fall Creek begins June 19, expect traffic delays thru October. Very heavy use. Quinn Meadow Horse Camp area trails – Camp snow free. Nearby trails mostly snow free but increasing snow to higher elevations. Trail clearing in progress. Hwy 46 bridge reconstruction over Fall Creek begins June 19, expect traffic delays thru October. Metolius-Windigo Trail Most trail segments to 6,000’ elevation are snow free and some trail clearing in progress with elevations above 6,000’ blocked by snow. Cultus Lake and Winopee Lk TH – Trailhead snow free but closed until approx. July 19 for hazard tree removal with trail cleared of blowdown to Teddy Lakes junction. Expect patchy to increasing snow and down trees beyond. Additional closures around Cultus Lk campground and day use area in place until further notice. Lemish Lake TH – Unknown access but may be blocked by snow. Charlton Lake TH – Accessible with possible patchy snow and trees across trails. Osprey Point TH – snow free with parking access but trails have moderate blowdown. Have a safe summer trails season! Fall River Trail – Snow free and may have trees across trail. South/North Twin Lakes area trails – Snow free and trails mostly cleared. Horse Butte to Swamp Wells area trails – Trails out of Horse Butte TH are firm and in good condition to Swamp Wells horse camp with a few down trees possible on trails. Newberry Caldera trails – Road 21 into Newberry Caldera is plowed and open with snow patches in caldera floor and sectional to increasing snow on higher elevation trails. Paulina Peak road is closed due to snow. Peter Skene Ogden Trail – Snow free and cleared of trees. Lava Cast Forest Trailhead – snow free and accessible with parking and trail in good condition.